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February 29, 2024
Today in Texas History
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
The Bandera Prophet
On this day in 1988, the chamber of commerce of Anthony, on the Texas-New Mexico border in El Paso County, declared the town the Leap Year Capital of the World.
Anthony was reportedly named by a Mexican-American woman who built a chapel to St. Anthony of Padua sometime before 1884. The Texas community later became known as La Tuna, after the Federal Correctional Institution located there.
In the early 1940s, the population was estimated at only 20, but 10 years later, after the community incorporated as Anthony, the population estimate had grown to 1,200. By the second quadrennial celebration, held in 1992, the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club, headquartered in Anthony and open to anyone born on Feb. 29, had more than 100 members.
Anthony was reportedly named by a Mexican-American woman who built a chapel to St. Anthony of Padua sometime before 1884. The Texas community later became known as La Tuna, after the Federal Correctional Institution located there.
In the early 1940s, the population was estimated at only 20, but 10 years later, after the community incorporated as Anthony, the population estimate had grown to 1,200. By the second quadrennial celebration, held in 1992, the Worldwide Leap Year Birthday Club, headquartered in Anthony and open to anyone born on Feb. 29, had more than 100 members.